Mining Part 1

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Mining is one of the oldest economic activities in Nigeria. It involves the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth.

Lesson Objectives

At the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Define mining and explain its meaning.
2. Identify the major components of the Nigerian mining industry.
3. List major minerals found in Nigeria and explain the methods used to mine each one.

What is Mining?

Mining is one of the oldest economic activities in Nigeria. It involves the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth.

Before the discovery of crude oil, Nigeria was known for the mining of minerals such as coal, tin, and columbite.

Mining plays an important role in the country’s economy as it provides raw materials for industries, employment opportunities, and foreign exchange earnings.

Components of the Nigerian Mining Industry

The mining industry in Nigeria is made up of three main components:

1. Exploration: Exploration is the first and most important stage in the mining process. It involves searching for places where valuable minerals can be found. Experts such as geologists and surveyors study the land, rocks, and soil to locate mineral deposits. They use tools like maps, satellites, and test drilling to find out the quantity and quality of the minerals available. In Nigeria, exploration is carried out for minerals such as gold, coal, iron ore, and limestone. This stage requires a lot of investment and advanced technology because it determines whether it will be successful or not.
2. Mining: Mining is the actual removal or extraction of minerals from the earth after they have been discovered. It can be done on the surface or underground depending on where the mineral is located. For example, open-pit or surface unearthing is used when minerals like tin, limestone, and coal are close to the surface, while underground mining is used for deeper minerals like gold. In Nigeria, mining is carried out in places like Jos, Enugu, and Kogi. This stage requires heavy machines, workers, and safety measures to prevent accidents and protect the environment.
3. Processing: Processing is the stage that comes after mining. It involves cleaning and refining the raw minerals to remove unwanted materials. The aim is to produce minerals in a pure form that can be used by industries or exported. For example, crude oil is refined into petrol, diesel, and kerosene, while iron ore is processed to produce steel. In Nigeria, most minerals are exported in raw form without proper processing, which reduces their value. Developing more processing industries in Nigeria would help the country gain more income and create jobs for its citizens.

Major Minerals Present in Nigeria (Mining)

Nigeria is richly endowed with a variety of mineral resources spread across the country. Major minerals include:

• Crude oil and natural gas – Crude oil and natural gas are Nigeria’s most valuable mineral resources, found mainly in the Niger Delta region including Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, and Akwa Ibom States. Crude oil is a liquid fossil fuel that is refined into petrol, diesel, and kerosene, while natural gas is used for cooking and power generation. The main method used to extract crude oil and gas is drilling. In this process, deep holes called oil wells are drilled into the earth’s crust, often several kilometers below the surface or under the sea. The oil or gas is then pumped to the surface and transported through pipelines to refineries for processing.
• Coal – Coal is a black mineral used as fuel for producing electricity and for industrial purposes such as cement production. In Nigeria, coal is found in Enugu, Benue, and Kogi States. The main methods used for unearthing coal are surface unearthing and underground unearthing. Surface unearthing is used when the coal seams are close to the surface. It involves removing layers of soil and rock to expose the coal. Underground unearthing is used when coal is buried deep below the surface. In this method, tunnels and shafts are dug to reach the coal beds, and workers extract the coal manually or with machines.
• Tin and Columbite – Tin and columbite are metallic minerals found mostly around Jos Plateau, Bauchi, and Nasarawa States. Tin is used in making tin plates, while columbite is used in the production of alloys and electronic components. The major method of unearthing tin and columbite in Nigeria is placer or alluvial mining, which involves dredging. This method is used because tin and columbite are often found in riverbeds and alluvial deposits. Dredging machines scoop sand and gravel from river bottoms, which are then washed to separate the tin ore from the lighter materials.
• Iron ore – Iron ore is an important metallic mineral used for making steel and machinery. In Nigeria, large deposits of iron ore are found in Kogi, Enugu, and Niger States. The common method used to mine iron ore is open-cast (surface) mining, because the deposits are usually near the earth’s surface. In open-cast mining, layers of soil and rock are stripped off to expose the ore, which is then broken into smaller pieces and transported for processing. This method allows for easy extraction and is cheaper than underground mining.
• Limestone – Limestone is a non-metallic mineral used mainly in the production of cement, fertiliser, and building materials. It is found in large quantities in Ogun, Sokoto, Benue, and Cross River States. The main method used in unearthing limestone is open-pit mining. In this method, the top layer of soil and rock is removed to reach the limestone deposits. Explosives are sometimes used to break the rocks, after which the limestone is loaded into trucks and taken to cement factories for crushing and processing.
• Gold – Gold is a precious metal used in making jewellery, coins, and electronics. In Nigeria, gold deposits are found in Zamfara, Kebbi, Niger, and Osun States. The main method used to extract gold is underground or shaft mining, because gold is usually located deep beneath the surface. Miners dig tunnels and shafts to reach the gold-bearing rocks. In some areas, artisanal (small-scale) miners use simple tools to pan for gold from river sediments. However, this method can be dangerous and harmful to the environment if not properly managed.
• Lead and Zinc – Lead and zinc are metallic minerals used in producing batteries, paints, and pipes. They are mainly found in Ebonyi, Benue, and Taraba States. The most common method of mining lead and zinc is underground mining, where shafts and tunnels are dug to reach the ore veins. The minerals are then blasted and hauled to the surface for processing and separation. In some cases, open-cast mining is also used if the deposits are shallow.
• Bitumen – Bitumen, also known as tar sand, is a black, sticky substance used in road construction and roofing. Nigeria has large bitumen deposits in Ondo, Ogun, and Edo States. The main method of mining bitumen is surface or strip mining. This involves removing layers of soil and sand to expose the bitumen. The bitumen is then heated or processed to separate it from the sand. This method is similar to open-pit mining but requires special equipment to extract the thick, heavy material.

Final Thoughts

• Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals from the earth.
• The Nigerian mining industry consists of exploration, mining, and processing components.
• Nigeria has many minerals such as coal, tin, gold, limestone, and crude oil, each mined using suitable methods.

Tags

Mining, Unearthing, Extraction, Minerals, Nigerian Mining Industry, Exploration, Processing, Open-cast Mining, Underground Mining, Drilling, Dredging, Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Coal, Tin, Columbite, Iron Ore, Limestone, Gold, Lead, Zinc, Bitumen

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